love and other things.

(spoiler for the end of the post)

When I started this blog back in the summer, I did it for several reasons.
One, I was ready to be me again - to show my creativity and free spirit to not only myself, but those who are willing to type this website into their browser whenever they see that I've updated it.
Two, I don't want to lose that part of me that so many other people don't have. You're either born with creativity, or you're not. Yes, you can achieve that over an amount of time, but the passion must be instilled at a young age. It always was for me.
I remember my first camera. It was small and pink with sparkles on it and a giant barbie sticker. When the film was being developed, the wait felt like eternity... but once I got my hands on those pictures, I loved it. It didn't matter that the pictures always had a reddish hue and were poor quality. I was fascinated by the fact that I could create a picture of anything with a good eye and finger skills to click the shutter.

Sometimes when I'm editing a photo and feel like there's no hope in making it look good because the ISO speed sucks and I took the picture in a place that makes the photo look dark and blurry, I remember back to that precious time of six. I still have all those photos (mostly photos of myself that I made my brother, Jeremy, take of me... but I also have a rather hilarious picture of my brother at 5 years old wearing a dress and pearls and acting like a grandma, but anyway...) and those are my memories.

When I hear about house fires and those that have lost everything, I IMMEDIATELY think of their pictures, the drawings their kids made of hand turkeys in the first grade, the love letters from the first season of love with their spouses, pictures of their great great grandmothers, and the journals they recorded life's ups and downs in, and that breaks my heart. I know all those things are only possessions and in the end of the world they will just be dust, but while we're here on earth I believe that memories are to be cherished. As our minds fade with old age, a picture helps us remember.

With all of that said, what I really wanted to show you were the pictures my sister in law took of David and me. I went to Charlottle Russe, found a vintage looking (yet modern) dress for $15, found a hair tutorial online, and we met up with her at a park. She had all the props (except for the guitar; David brought that) and we sat on a blanket in the middle of a walking trail. When we left about an hour later, I was in pain. I had been attacked by mosquitoes (this is swampy Florida, afterall) and was covered in them all over my legs. For the next 3 days, it was a scratch fest from dawn until dusk.
Sometimes memories can be painful, too. ;-)

Alas, here are the photos:











I am doing a giveaway right here on November 30. One commenter on my blog will win. Comment and you will be entered. :-)

our christmas card this year

Vintage Noel Christmas Card

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One. Uno. Ein.

A year ago something monumental happened.


It was the day where living for myself came to an end.




I became a bride.

The time has both flown and dragged on for me, it's one of those moments in life where you can't explain how it feels. But, when I try to see it from another perspective, I look at it as if I had a baby a year ago and then I'd have a one year old now, and that's bizarre. When I put myself in that position, I can sort of feel for my friends who are mothers already. Time is a precious, valuable thing. Time is of greatest importance.
So, what did we do on our grand 1 year?

We renewed our love and commitment.
We also had a whole day of time together.

This past year has been a crazy, emotional roller-coaster where somedays I felt so sure this is what God wanted, while other days I felt so displaced from the 19 year old girl I use to be.
I've changed.
And I've learned to not get offended when people who knew me then see me now say that I have changed.
It's natural - you DO change when you grow up and start a family, whether that's marriage or raising a child. They are all one in the same. But when I first heard those words "you changed" it was a negative connotation, it felt as if they said, "you're not Shaylee anymore."
But this is what I've realized since then:

I'm still Shaylee.

I'm Shaylee Meurer now. Not that a name can change a person or anything, but I can say that when I moved 1,500 miles away from home I realized who my true friends are, I became introverted because God suddenly gave me more of a quiet and gentle spirit which I would want anyday over an obnoxious one (lol), my crazyness settled down (I still have my moments), and I am bold in different ways now.
Moving away can change a person because the life that you once knew has changed - and if you don't learn to deal with that reality, all the good things in life will pass you by.

I have an amazing husband who loves me. He is thoughtful and does the cutest things like trying to surprise me even though I've got him figured it out and it usually doesn't work. Our tickling fights which usually lead to martial arts moves on each other keeps joy in our marriage, and there is still nothing better than the way he kisses me. I love this man with all my heart.



We spent last weekend in New Smyrna beach. We did all of the following:
*Chased Birds
*Ate at a fancy shmancy restaurant without being too cheap
*Watched a lot of movies on cable (we don't have cable at home so it was a special treat)
*Dreamed about what's next in our marriage
*Froze our butts off at the beach
*Stopped at a carnival on the way home
















It was marvelous.
And much needed!

I love you, David Meurer.
You were placed in my life by Jesus Christ Himself as an irreplacable gift.
With all the people in the world, I am so blessed to say I found the love of my life at such a young age. You are amazing just the way you are.
Here's to a lifetime more of memories!

Saturdays are good.

I really don't know what to say.
Truth is, I haven't written a post in some time because I've been dreading it.
There are just too many pictures I have to edit, resize, and post for having poor internet connection. I don't know how bloggers do it (ahem... Kelle Hampton, Ms. I-Post-A-New-Blog-Post-Every-3-Days.)

So where to start?
Colorado was grand, as I'm sure you already knew I was going to say.
I missed the people, the smells, the sights, the feeling of home - there really is not anything greater than those things. But with hellos come goodbyes, and that truly was hard for me to do.

I know that Colorado doesn't define who I am, but for the last 19 years of my life I conquered life there - the good times and bad. It seems impossible to seperate myself from that. I don't think I should have to, either, but there is a part of me that has to move on and detatch myself and realize that I live in Florida now and this is my new reality. Even if I don't always like it, I have to make the best of it. I want to do everything with a grateful heart and I hate making David feel bad for moving me here. All of the emotions I've dealt with in the past year have really been taking a toll on me but making me stronger at the same time.
I can see the good in this. But truthfully, not always.
And I don't ever want to start being fake, to put up a mask over my face and act like I'm okay when I'm not. I force myself to be honest with what I'm going through, because if I didn't... well, I would more than likely be a very sad person, built up with anger and maybe even bitterness.

Fact: This past year was the hardest year of my life.
Even bigger fact: God isn't going anywhere.

I've been registering for college.
I can't describe how happy I am to learn more, meet new people, and go back to school. I've been longing for that ever since I left high school! This will be good for me. The current FAQ is what I'm going for. I have a few Majors I'm thinking of but I refuse to write them on a public website incase I change my mind, which I more than likely will because I literally have passion for EVERY subject... except Math. :)


Alright, rambling time over. Cue pictures.

My parent's 21st Anniversary Dinner
I dragged my siblings to help but to my surprise they were willing to cook for hours! Kiley served the adults asking frequently, "Can I get you anything else?" That immediately sent Jeremy and me into giggles every time.











Party Time
A group of my closest friends and family members came over for a day. The spread was pretty nice, too, I gotta admit. My best friend Holly (and her boyfriend Ian) make some mean enchiladas.





(Yep, I'm always the shortest)

Kiley and Practicing for Baskeball Tryouts
I love the passion in my sister and I love how my brother mentors. He's making an impact in her life right now; I don't think either of them realize how much.





A walk on a gorgeous fall day
Fall is breathtaking in Colorado. It's the time of year when the air becomes less dry, more crisp. When you can smell firewood, aspen trees, and pine cones.
I soaked up this week.















Palmer Park Overlook
The go-to place for a view of the entire city of Colorado Springs.
At night, this is locally known as the place teenagers drive to for their um, "intimate" moments, if you know what I mean. But how beautiful is this view?



everyone have a safe halloween! I will be working so there won't be too much going on over here. :)

PST...if you comment on this blog, you may win a fragrance from Bath & Body Works. :) Winner will be announced November 30!